Angewandte. Angewandte Obituary Chemie

in polymer chemistry. During the last decade, Turro Nicholas J. Turro (1938–2012) extended his breadth in research to provide impor- tant contributions in the areas of enantiomeric Nicholas J. (Nick) Turro, the William P. Schweitzer selectivity in the reactions of singlet oxygen, the Professor Chemistry at Columbia University, who development of novel photoluminescent probes for laid the foundations for modern organic photo- imaging biomolecules, and the demonstration of chemistry, supramolecular photochemistry, and spin chemistry of hydrogen molecules incarcerated spin chemistry through his imaginative and pio- inside a fullerene. Turro summarized his own neering research, passed away on November 24, contributions and interests in an inspiring Perspec- 2012 following a courageous battle with cancer. tive Article published in 2011, written while [1] Turros research over a period of five decades was battling cancer. Nicholas J. Turro characterized by a remarkable breadth, encompass- Turros first textbook on organic photochemis- ing synthetic organic chemistry, colloidal and inter- try published in 1965 set an intellectual and face chemistry, physical chemistry, magnetic reso- pedagogic style for understanding and investigating nance theory and its applications, mechanistic the mechanisms of organic reactions that served as aspects of molecular and supramolecular organic an exemplar for the teaching and execution of and inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, bio- research in the field for nearly half a century. The logical chemistry, and sophisticated experimental second edition published at the end of 1970 has techniques. since been an enduring standard for teaching and Turro was born in Middletown, Connecticut learning the fundamental principles of physical (USA) on May 18, 1938, and had his early organic photochemistry. A much-anticipated education at Wesleyan University in Middletown. expanded and updated version of the book was He received his PhD from the California Institute published in 2010 and, as expected, received of Technology in 1963, working with George S. excellent reviews. These books reflect Turros Hammond, and did a one-year postdoctoral study unique ability to organize complex information, in the laboratory of Paul D. Bartlett at Harvard. In seemingly unrelated to most others, from a wide 1964, he joined Columbia University as an instruc- range of subjects, in a very logical and retrospec- tor and became professor in 1969. He was also an tively simple manner. outstanding administrator, as evident from his Turros accomplishments have been recognized being the Chair of the Chemistry Department by his peers through major national and interna- (1981–1983) and Co-Chair of the Chemical Engi- tional awards. He was elected to the National neering Department (1997–2000). Turros breadth Academy of Sciences and the American Academy in science and engineering was recognized by his of Art and Sciences in 1981. He has also been role as not only the William P. Schweitzer Professor awarded the American Chemical Societys Pure of Chemistry, but also and Professor of Chemical Chemistry Award and the James Flack Norris Engineering and Applied Chemistry from 1997, Award. In 2011, he was awarded the A. C. Cope and Professor of Earth and Environmental Engi- Award, the highest award in organic chemistry by neering in the H. Krumb School of Mines from the American Chemical Society for “laying the 1998. foundations for modern organic photochemistry, Turro was an exceptionally productive chemist supramolecular photochemistry, and spin chemistry who was able to achieve distinction and create through his imaginative and pioneering research”. excitement in a wide range of areas of chemistry by The inaugural G. S. Hammond Award by the Inter- making deep intellectual and scientific penetration American Photochemical Society was presented at the interfaces of organic chemistry with chemical posthumously to him in January 2013. In addition to physics, biology, and materials science. His signifi- his signal accomplishments as a research scientist, cant achievements and substantial contributions to Turro was recognized as an educational leader who chemistry include pioneering developments in the made a national impact through his teaching, fields of cyclopropanone chemistry, mechanistic mentoring, scholarship and outreach activities. He organic photochemistry, chemiluminescent organic was an early pioneer in employing modern learning reactions, the general theory of organic photo- technologies in classroom that enabled students to chemistry, magnetochemistry of organic molecules, learn and grasp concepts with ease. His teaching direct spectroscopic detection and characterization accomplishments were recognized by many awards, of carbenes and biradicals, organic photochemistry including his selection as a Distinguished Teacher in micelles and zeolites, photochemical character- Scholar by the National Science Foundation for ization of dendrimers and DNA, supramolecular 2002. control of radical reactivity through supramolec- Turro also had an interest in philosophy of ular and magnetic effects, use of EPR to elucidate science and he generously used words such as organic reaction mechanisms, and the use of photo- “paradigms”, “normal science” and “pathological chemical methods to unravel long-standing issues science” in conversations and integrated these

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 1363 – 1364 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 1363 Angewandte. Obituary

concepts in his teachings and training students. married in 1960, two daughters and five grand- Examples include a Review published in Ange- children. In addition to this biological family, Turro, wandte Chemie in 1986 on “Geometric and Topo- together with full support from his wife, treated all logical Thinking in Organic Chemistry”, and his those who passed by his laboratory as members of Essay “Paradigms Lost and Paradigms Found: his extended “chemistry” family. He treated every Examples of Science Extraordinary and Science human being he knew with respect and love and Pathological—And How To Tell the Difference”, was genuinely interested in their well-being. published in this journal in 2000. Turros passing is an enormous loss to science and Over a period of five decades, Turro published all who knew him are sure to feel they have lost a close to 1000 journal articles, which often had the part of themselves. “photon as a reagent for initiating photoreactions and as a product of deactivation of electronically Vaidhyanathan Ramamurthy excited molecules” as a central theme, which is also University of Miami how he summarized his work on his homepage. He Jochen Mattay trained over 500 postdocs, graduate students, Bielefeld University undergraduate students, and visitors. Through them, the legacy of Turro will live on. Every one of his students, associates, and colleagues know his [1] N. J. Turro, J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 9863 – 9890 selflessness in sharing his knowledge and his will- [2] N. J. Turro, Angew. Chem. 1986, 98, 872 – 892. [3] N. J. Turro, Angew. Chem. 2000, 112, 2343 – 2348. ingness to spare any amount of time to explain concepts using physically intuitive models. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201209993 Turro had a happy personal life that he cherished. He leaves behind Sandy, whom he

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